Charles joseph laxgenbacii



(No Model.)

0. J. LANGENB-ACH.

GATE.

No. 443,858. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

no., wnsm UNITED STATES PATENT Demon,

CHARLES JOSEPH LANGENBACII, OF DOROIIESTER, IOIVA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,858, dated December30, 1890.

Application filed August 26, 1890. Serial No. 363,110. (No model.)

-from becoming twisted when the gate is To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES JosEPH LAN- GENBAOH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Allamakee and State ofIowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin wire gates and gate-fasteners;and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and definitely pointed out in the claims. A

The object of my invention is to provide a gate for barb-wire fenceswhich will embody the essential requisites of a swinging gate, unitesimplicity of construction with adaptation for practical use, andpreserve the'continuity'of the fence.

A further object of my invention is to provide .a combined gate-fastener and wirestretcher for a barb-wire or other flexible gate.

I obtain these objects by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like letters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the gateopen, and Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the fastener.

In the drawings, A represents the wires, and B B the fence-posts. Ashort distance in ad Vance of the post B and slightly at one side.thereof is a bracing-post C, united at its top by a cross-bar with thepost B. The ends of the fence-wires at post B are looped, as at a, andhave coupled therewith by interlocking looped ends of the gate-wires D.The opposite ends of the gate-wires are secured in a vertical support orend board E, which is formed, preferably, with a large center, and has asupplemental side piece or cleat e bolted on its side and formed with arectangular guideway or recess a therein, through which passes aperforated latch-bar F. The latchbar-is secured in place by a transversebolt f, passing through the end board and one of the perforations in thebar, the length of the latch-bar being adjusted by passing the boltthrough different perforations therein. To prevent the gate from fallingand the wires opened, I secure an oblique brace-strip G to the upper endof the end board, which ex- 7 tends down to aboutthe center of the lowerwire and to which all the wires are secured.

II represents a swinging brace-rod loosely secured to one of the topwires at a point near the end board, its lower end extending down bottomand supports the end board where the same is on the ground.

To fasten the gate and to stretch the wires thereof, I employ a handlocking-lever K, fulcrumed at an enlargement is near its short arm by aheaded pin, which extends into the post B. On the outer end of the shortarm is a pin k,which is intended to be passed through an eye f in thelatch-bar, the eye having a reduced extension into which the pin passesto prevent the latch from becoming disengaged. At the opposite end ofthe enlargement is a right-angle projection from which extends the longarm L of the lever at right angles thereto, extending past the end boardandprovided with ahandle. Projecting downward from the right-angleextension of the enlargement is a retaining-lug Z, which engages theouter face of the latch-bar and prevents the same from twisting when thegate is locked. There is a small opening in the handle, through which acord may be passed for securing it to a wire. hen the gate is closed andfastened, the end board is brought directly opposite the post 0, so thatthe end board will be held in its upright position and prevent thetwisting of the latch. The long arm of the locking-lever also acts asalook to prevent the outward movement of the end board.

In operating the gate the long arm of the locking-lever is thrown up,lowering the short arm and latch and permitting the latter to bedisconnected from the pin and the gate swung open. \Vhen the gate is tobe closed, the latch is again engaged with the pin on the short arm ofthe lever and the long arm forced down to a horizontal position,carrying the short arm in, thereby drawing the end board up andstretching the wires of 'the' gate.

By the above-described construct-ion it will be noted that a very strongdurable fastener is produced, and also a stretcher for the gate \Vll'es.

I am aware that many minor changes can be made in the construction andthe arrangement of the parts of my device herein shown and describedwithout in the least departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gate, the combination, with the posts and fence-wires, thelatter having looped pro jeeting ends, of the gate wires interlockedwith the loops, an end board, adiagonal brace extending from the top ofthe board, to which brace the wires are seen red, a swinging brace rodloosely secured to the upper forward end of the gate, a latch, a leverwith which the latch engages, and a brace-post at one side of the endboard, substantially as described.

2. In a wire gate, the combination, with the end board having a recesstl1erein,of a latchbar pivotally secured in the recess, a lever pivotedon the post, one end of which is constructed to couple with thelatch-bar, a depending lug on the lever for engaging one side of thelatch-bar, and a handle extending beyond the end board when the gate isclosed, substantially as described.

3. In a gate, the combination, with the end board, of a latch pivotedthereon and a locking-lever on the gate-post,tl1e short arm of which iscoupled with the latch, having its long arm extending out beyond theboard, and a lug for engaging thelatch to prevent thesame from twisting,substantially as described.

I. In a gate, a lever pivoted on the latchpost, having a right-angleprojection uniting the long and short arm thereof, a lug extendin g fromthe projection, and a latch bar coupled with the leverand over whichthelug passes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES JOSEPII- LAXGENBACIL Witnesses:

.ToHN GUNDERSON, GEORGE COPPERSMITH.

